Sponsors (10)
Makes a nonbinding statement praising coal, noting its electricity share and asserting its economic and national-security importance.
The resolution highlights coal's role in powering the grid, supporting workers, and contributing to perceived national security benefits, but in doing so risks legitimizing continued coal reliance that could slow clean-energy transition, perpetuate local pollution harms, and justify continued public financial support.
Residents, ratepayers, and grid operators benefit from recognizing coal as a significant source of baseload electricity (19.5% in 2022), which the resolution frames as supporting near-term grid stability and reliability.
Military personnel and defense operations may benefit from emphasis on coal-fired power as a contributor to energy availability that the resolution links to military readiness and national security.
Coal industry workers and their communities are publicly commended, which recognizes their economic contributions and may boost local morale and political visibility for affected workers.
Residents and the climate broadly face slower progress toward lower-carbon energy because praising and promoting coal could be used to justify delayed investment in clean energy and decarbonization.
Nearby communities may continue to shoulder health and pollution costs because emphasizing coal's reliability risks understating the remaining air-pollution and climate harms from coal generation.
Taxpayers could face fiscal costs if the nonbinding findings are used to justify continued federal support, subsidies, or regulatory preferences for coal-fired power.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Declares a nonbinding sense of the Senate praising coal industry workers and affirming coal’s historical and ongoing role in U.S. energy production, economic activity, and military readiness. It highlights coal’s share of U.S. utility-scale electricity (about 19.5% in 2022), its global contribution to electricity generation, and notes emissions reductions from advanced coal technologies that have improved air quality and public health.
Official title: Designating the week beginning on October 19, 2025, as "Coal Week".
Introduced October 20, 2025 by Cynthia M. Lummis · Last progress October 20, 2025